Orthopedic device for the ankle



Oct. 27, 1953 N. R. HATKOFF 2, 6,834

ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE FOR THE ANKLE Filed July 6, 1951 Fig. 3

, NGf/IUII R. Haikoff IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in orthopedic devices designed tocorrect an inward rolling tendency of the ankle alignment and thusprevent changes in the weight bearing surfaces of the heel.

An important object of the invention is to provide an orthopedicappliance constructed for exerting pressure on the outside of the heelto correct its alignment and also to exert an upward and inward pressureon the inner side of the ankle.

Another object is to provide an orthopedic appliance which may beinterchangeably used on either the right or left foot.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple andpractical construction, which is comfortable to the wearer, efficientand dependable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 2,and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification showing a cup toreceive the heel.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention,the numeral 5 designates a vertical channelled metal strap to thecentral portion and at the back or smooth side of which a metal crossstrap 6 is secured by a bolt and nut 7. V-shaped wings 8 are hinged tothe ends of cross strap 6 and are adapted to swing outwardly and in eachwing openings 9 are formed to swingably receive the upper ends of asubstantially U-shaped rigid wire frame [0.

The frame is swingable in the wings 8 and is curved downwardly and withits lower end rockable in a rolled bearing l l at the upper edge of aswivel connector Ila which is pivoted to the upper edge of a heel platel2. The lower edge of plate I2 is formed with a metal loop I3 to whichone end of a flexible foot strap or tape 14 is secured and which extendstherefrom upwardly in the channel of vertical strap and is adjustablysecured at its upper end to bolt and nut 1.

An adjustable leg strap I5 is secured in the flanges of the verticalstrap 5 adjacent the upper end of the latter.

A felt, rubber or other suitable padding strip I6 is cemented orotherwise suitably secured to the back of vertical strap 5 and a similarpad I! is likewise secured to the inner side of plate l2.

In applying the device a leg it is placed between the outwardly flaredwings 8 and the rigid vertical strap 5 is placed at the inner side ofthe leg with its lower end bearing against the inner side of ankle :eand strap I l is placed under the foot and attached to bolt and nut 1,as shown in Figure 2. Leg strap I5 is secured to the leg and thetightening of strap 14 will pull heel plate l2 inwardly against theouter side of heel 20 and resulting in an inward and upward pullingforce on the heel.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a cup-like member 21 to receive theheel, one edge of the cup being rolled and directly attached to thelower end of frame It to provide a hinge movement for member 2| and arelatively short strap 22 is attached to the opposite edge of cup member2| for anchoring to bolt and nut 1.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An orthopedic device vertical member adapted for placing at one sideof a leg, adjustable means adapted for embracing the leg and engagingthe upper portion of the vertical member and adapted to pull the upperend of the latter tightly against the leg, rigid means pivoted to amedial portion of said vertical member and adapted for extendingtherefrom downwardly to an opposite side of the leg, a pad at the lowerend of said lastnamed means adapted for bearing against the side of theheel, and flexible means attached to the pad and adapted for extendingunder the foot and attached to said vertical member and adapted to exertan upward and lateral force comprising a rigid on the heel upon atightening of said flexible means.

2. An orthopedic device comprising a rigid vertical member adapted forplacing at one side of a leg, an upper leg strap engaging the upperportion of said member to exert an inward pulling force thereon, meansconnected to a medial portion of said vertical member and adapted forextending downwardly therefrom to an opposite lower side of the leg,and: adaptedto bear against the side of the heel, and adjustableflexible means connecting the lower portion of said first named means tothe lower portion of the vertical member and extending transverselyunder the.

foot in the region of the heel to exert an upward and lateral force onthe heel.

3. The combination of claim. 2. wherein. said first named means includesa rigid wire frame pivoted at its upper end to the vertical member, andwherein said flexible. means includes a rigid heel plate at the lowerend of the frame adapted for bearing against theankle, and a strapadapt: ed for extending from the heel plate under the foot and upwardlyalong the. lower portion. of the vertical member.

4. The. combination of claim 2 wherein. said first named means includesa.- rigid wire frame pivoted at its upper end to the vertical member,and wherein saidflexible means; includes a selfadjusting heel plate atthe lower end oi the frame, adapted for bearing against, the, ankle, anda strap adapted for extending from the heel plate under the foot andupwardly along the lower portion of the vertical member.

5. The combination of. claim 2 wherein. said no first named meansincludes a. rigid wire frame pivoted at its; upper end to the. verticalmem her, and wherein said flexible means includes a padded plateswivelly connected. to the lower endof the frame and adapted forhearing; against the heel, and a strap attached to the plate andextending from the plate under the foot. and upwardly along the lowerportion of the.- vertical member.

6. An orthopedic device comprising a,- rigid vertical bar adapted forplacing at; the inner side of a leg, an. upper adjustable, legstrap-engaging. the" upper portion of said. has toexert an inwardpulling force thereon, a crossbar attached to a: medial portion, of.said: vertical bar, a rigid, substantially u-shaped wire frame pivotedat its ends to thev ends of. said cross bar,. said. frame being; curveddownwardly and adaptedv for crossing the leg from theinsideto theouterside of. the leg, a rigid; plateswivelly .Cil

connected to the lower end of the frame and adapted to bear against theside of the heel at the outerside of the leg, and an adjustable strapconnected to said plate and adapted for extending under the foot andengaging the lower portion of said vertical bar and adapted to exert anupward and lateral force on the heel upon a tightening of said lastnamed strap.

'7. An orthopedic device comprising a rigid vertical bar adapted forplacing at. the inner side of a has, an. upper adjustable leg strapengaging the upper portion of said bar to exert an inward pulling forcethereon, a cross bar atachedto a medial portion of said vertical bar, arigid, substantially U-shaped wire frame pivoted. at; its, ends to theends of said cross bar, said. frame being curved downwardly and adaptedfor crossing the leg from the inside to the outer side of the leg, acup-like member adapted to receive the heel of the foot, means hingedly.connecting the outer edge of the cuplike member to. the. lower end. ofsaid frame, and a, flexible. member connecting the inner edge of. saidcup-like member to said vertical bar and. adapted to exert, an upwardand" lateral force on the heelupon a. tightening of said flexiblemember.

8. An orthopedic. device comprising a rigid vertical member adapted forplacing at the inner side of a 1eg,.a,n. upper adjustable leg strapadapted for securing said member to the leg, a cross. bar attached to amedial portionof said vertical member, flaredwings hinged to the ends ofsaid cross bar, a rigid. substantially U-shaped wire frame. pivoted. atits ends to said wings, saidframev being curved downwardly and adapted.for crossing the legjfrom the inside to the outerside of the leg, m ansat the l wer end of the. frame adapted for bearing against the outersideof the heel, and adjustable means adapted for extending, under the foot;and connecting said first named means to the vertical member and.adapted to exert an. inward. and upward. force on the heel.

NATHAN R". HATKOFF References Cited. in thefile of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,267,848 Taylor. Dec. 30; 19.441FOREIGN PATENTS Number, Country Date,

41.7-38.6; France Nov.. 2.8, 1910

